Alma Film Festival Announces 2026 Award Winners Across the Global South
Las Terrenas, Samaná, Dominican Republic — March 2026
The 2026 Alma Film Festival concluded with a powerful celebration of cinema from across the Global South, honoring films and artists whose work reflects the depth, creativity, and cultural force emerging from around the world.
From Gabon to Cameroon, Switzerland to Fiji, Jamaica to Kenya, this year’s awards underscore Alma’s commitment to storytelling as a vehicle for connection, cultural exchange, and global dialogue.
----------- Honorary Recognition -----------
The Dr. Cornel West Award for Global Truth & Cultural Conscience was presented to Rachel M’Bon of Switzerland, co-director of Je Suis Noires and her work with Now We Are Rising and Afropeian Cultural Center.
Je Suis Noires stands as a profound meditation on identity, belonging, and the lived experience of Black women in Switzerland—an essential contribution to global cinematic discourse.
----------- Marquee Awards -----------
The Pangaea Award (Best in Show) — Gabon
Afrotōpia — Produced by David Mboussou
A visionary work that explores the tension between tradition and progress, Afrotōpia reflects on land, legacy, and the future of African storytelling with striking clarity and depth.
Best Feature Film — Cameroon
Lioness — Produced by Wasi Fathes
A commanding narrative of strength and resilience, Lioness delivers a powerful exploration of womanhood, survival, and identity within contemporary African society.
Best Documentary Film — Switzerland
Je Suis Noires — Produced by Rachel M’Bon & Juliana Fanjul
An intimate and urgent documentary that centers voice, visibility, and the nuanced realities of Black womanhood in Europe.
Best Short Film — Fiji
Daunitukutuku — Produced by Sachin Solanki, Dulcie Stewart, & Tumeli Tuqota
A vibrant and inventive short that captures the spirit of emerging storytelling from the South Pacific, grounded in culture, play, and perspective.
Audience Award — Jamaica
Origins — Produced by Kurt Wright & Noelle Wright
A deeply resonant film that connected with audiences through its imaginative storytelling and emotional depth, bridging mythology, history, and Caribbean identity.
----------- Creative Excellence -----------
Best Writing — Jamaica
Kurt Wright — Origins
A richly layered script that weaves mythology, character, and cultural memory into a compelling narrative experience.
Best Directing — Gabon
David Mboussou — Afrotōpia
A confident and visionary directorial voice that brings thematic depth and cinematic precision to a globally relevant story.
----------- Performance Awards -----------
Best Actor — Gabon
Tiss Waren Mombo — Afrotōpia
A grounded and compelling performance that carries emotional weight while embodying the film’s deeper tensions.
Best Actress — Cameroon
Laura Onyama — A Cry from the Forest
A powerful portrayal that channels vulnerability, strength, and cultural truth with striking authenticity.
Best Supporting Actor — Kenya
Mufasa Kibet — Cards on the Table
A standout supporting performance that adds dimension, presence, and nuance to the ensemble.
Best Supporting Actress — Gabon
Gaddielle Nfono Mintsa — Afrotōpia
A commanding supporting role that elevates the narrative through presence, precision, and emotional clarity.
Best Ensemble Performance — Jamaica
Origins
A cohesive and dynamic ensemble whose collective performances bring the film’s world fully to life.
Honorable Mention — Best Ensemble Performance — Kenya
Cards on the Table
Recognized for exceptional comedic timing, chemistry, and a vibrant collective performance that energized the screen.
----------- Craft Recognition -----------
Best Cinematography — Kenya
Jim Bishop — Cards On the Table
A visually striking achievement defined by its brilliant use of color, precise composition, and fluid, intentional camera movement. Cards on the Table crafts a vibrant and immersive visual language, where each frame feels meticulously designed yet alive with energy. The cinematography elevates the narrative with clarity and style, transforming everyday moments into compelling, cinematic expression.
Best Editing — Jamaica
Teeqs — Origins
A sharp and intentional edit that enhances pacing, tension, and narrative flow.
Best Visual Effects — Jamaica
Corretta Singer (Maven Media) — Origins
Inventive and seamlessly integrated visual effects that expand the film’s mythology and elevate its cinematic world.
----------- Special Recognitions -----------
Breakout Performance Award — Cameroon
Ashan Ngueste — Duct-Tape
A remarkable emerging talent whose performance signals the arrival of a compelling new voice in cinema.
Vision & Voice Award — South Africa
Jozi, I Write My Story — Directed by Mandisa Mary-Jane Mtembu
A visually striking documentary that captures the pulse of contemporary South African identity through a bold and emerging cinematic voice.
Vision & Voice Award — Lesotho
Threads, Beats & Legends: Sesotho Alive — Directed by Khotso Maphathe
A compelling cultural documentary set in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, following a new generation of Basotho youth preserving and reimagining their heritage through music, fashion, visual arts, film, and storytelling.
Closing Note
The 2026 awards reflect a clear and powerful reality: The future of cinema is global, and its center is expanding.
Through its continued focus on the Global South, the Alma Film Festival remains committed to creating a space where stories are not only seen—but understood, valued, and connected across cultures.
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment